Pittsburgh Steelers edge rusher T.J. Watt is the betting favorite to lead the NFL in sacks in 2022 with 5-1 odds at Tipico Sportsbook, and why wouldn’t he be?
Not only is Watt the reigning Defensive Player of the Year, but he tied Michael Strahan’s single-season sack record last season with 22.5. It was Watt’s second straight year leading the league in sacks after he recorded 15 in 2020. For bettors, targeting the two-time reigning sack leader to do it again makes complete logical sense.
In reality, though, all of the aforementioned are reasons to fade Watt this season. Odds favor someone else to top the list in 2022.
In the history of the NFL, no player has ever led the league in sacks for three straight seasons. In fact, Watt was only the third player ever to do it in two straight seasons (though his 15 were the lowest for a league-leader since 1996). So, even just accounting for last year, it’d be unlikely for him to come close to duplicating those type of numbers. Strahan followed up his record-setting season with *just* 11 sacks.
So who are the better bets?
2022 NFL Sacks Leader Odds
My personal favorite is the Cleveland Browns’ Myles Garret, who has the second-shortest odds at +600. He was third in sacks last season with 16, finishing in the top 10 for the third time out of the last four years. Watt was similarly a regular in the top 10 before finally claiming the top spot.
Other names that fit that description are Nick Bosa, who returned from an injury-shortened 2020 to record 15.5 sacks last season. The Niners rusher has the third shortest odds at +1000, and I’d gladly take those. He’s followed by brother Joey Bosa, who had 10.5 last season but might be unlocked by the addition of Khalil Mack (+2000) on the Chargers. Joey’s +1300 odds are tied with former sack leader Chandler Jones in his first year with the Raiders. I’m not sold on either of them to lead the league, though.
My next favorite bet is the always reliable Aaron Donald at +1500. He was the leader in 2018 with 20.5, and after seeing him take on the Bengals in a recent joint practice, I think it’s safe to say the fire is still there. Another sneaky good bet is Micah Parsons of the Dallas Cowboys at +2000. As a jack of all trades, he plays all over the field, but getting after the quarterback is probably his best attribute. After notching 13 sacks as a rookie, Dallas could look to unleash him even more.
